Israeli buses regularly make international headlines, be it for suicide bombings, fights over gender segregation or clashes concerning Shabbat schedules. On today’s episode of Israel Story, we delve into the world of lesser known bus-related conflicts.
In Act I, “The White Elephant,” Yochai Maital walks us through the history of Tel Aviv’s ‘New’ Central Bus Station — a derelict eight-story behemoth and modern day Tower of Babel — which mirrors much of modern Israeli history, with its grand vision and messy implementation.
Act II, “The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God,” is adapted from Etgar Keret’s short story collection of the same name, and performed by Keret himself. In it, we meet—yes—a bus driver whose deeply held belief in equity and fairness flies right smack in the face of Eddie, an assistant cook who has a problem getting places on time.

Not having buses running on Shabbos is NOT a problem. Its a blessing. People may forget that the land of Israel is only still here with us today, thousands of years after Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because Jews follow the commandments given by G-D, including to observe Shabbos. Whether buses now, today in history, or over Israel's prior history, Israel and Jews have faced extinction, annihilation, but have survived and thrived - BECAUSE of their connection to G-D, NOT despite it. Because of doing Torah mitzvahs, not by exerting the free will to refrain.